The first full moon of 2021 – the “Wolf’s Moon” – shines in the sky tonight

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The first one full moon of the year will light up the night sky on Thursday, January 28, 2021. But you won’t have to wait until the middle of the night to see it – the full moon “Wolf Moon” reaches its peak illumination in the afternoon.

Why is it called the wolf moon?

According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, the January full moon is often referred to as the “wolf moon” in reference to the wolves that howled at night this time of year, although it is not known if the name came from a Native American tribe. , as moon names usually do.

There are a number of other names used to describe this month’s moon, including Candles Moon, Snow Moon, Hunger Moon, Center Moon, Cold Moon, Frost Exploding Moon, Freeze Up Moon, Severe Moon, and Hard Moon, among others.

“From what I learned about the traditional names given to full moons before the introduction of modern timekeeping, local rulers usually decided on the name of the moon based on conditions at the time. These cultures generally did not need calendars specifying exact dates. well in advance, “said Gordon Johnson of NASA this week, explaining the large number of names.” Full Moon names have been used to describe and remember what happened in the past and to recall what was likely to happen in the near future. Additionally, there are many different Native American names for Full Moons. “

Crescent moon in a cloudy sky
Two days before the full wolf moon, the moon appears between the clouds in the sky over Aachen, Germany on January 26, 2021.

Wassilios Aswestopoulos / NurPhoto via Getty Images


When to spot the wolf moon

In clear conditions, the Wolf’s Full Moon will be visible starting at 2:16 p.m. ET. It will continue to glow through the night, visible once it rises above the horizon at sunset.

To spot the best view of the moon, research your local moonrise and moonset times and find an open area to enjoy a wide view of the sky. Don’t worry if you miss it on Thursday – the moon will appear full for several days, until Saturday morning.

Skywatching in 2021 may not be as dramatic as it was last year Comet NEOWISE or Great conjunction, but it promises some spectacular moons. Unlike 2020, which saw 13 full moons, 2021 will have the typical 12 full moons:

  • February 27: snow moon
  • March 28: Worm moon
  • April 26: pink moon
  • May 26: Flower moon
  • June 24: strawberry moon
  • July 23: Buck moon
  • August 22: sturgeon moon
  • September 20: Harvest Moon
  • October 20: hunter’s moon
  • November 19: Beaver moon
  • December 18: cold moon

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